2015 EMGP: Race 3 – Blisworth Friday 5

New McKEP recruit Matt ‘Matty’ Adcock (writing here in the third person) was sent out on his first solo mission as a McKEP operative to the delightful and charming rural Northamptonshire village of Blisworth. In a blatant attempt to overhaul project mate/rival Rimkiss, Adcock called in family babysitting favours on a sunny Friday evening before braving the bank holiday weekend traffic to escape over the Leicestershire border via the world renowned Route A5.

Having persuaded the new McKEP WAG and long suffering girlfriend that this was in fact a romantic meal opportunity, Adcock was relieved to spot a Chef & Brewer pub on the outbound journey. A relaxed calmness settled over Adcock as he serenely progressed to the race HQ at Blisworth Footie Club(?) Having sensibly used work time and money to print and fill out the race entry form, all that remained for Adcock to do was hurriedly hand over his cash and scrawl McCarkiss Elite Project on the day of entry form without any physical or verbal assault from disgruntled officials. Unfortunately this calm was shattered upon receiving a text from fellow new McKEP recruit Chris Jordan, who had come across information to suggest local miniature action figure and speedster Toby Spencer was racing.

Unperturbed Adcock completed the obligatory warm up through the less posh end of Blisworth, taking in an estate of what appeared to former council properties, this of course allowed ample opportunities to deal with any nerves Spencer’s appearance might have created. Returning to the car Adcock fearlessly removed his warm up t-shirt to reveal his resplendent, if a little tight, McKEP vest. Announcing to the girlfriend he was off to the start, he set off to complete the quote ‘brisk 10 minute walk’ …some 14 hours laters, severely dehydrated and with light fading Adcock reached the start.

Duly Tiny Toby and Adcock stood on the start line, revving their metaphorical engines and then in flash of late evening Blisworth sunshine they were launched down the 1:5 first mile at lightening speed. A lead pack of 5 athletes formed and having sensibly held back on the steep down opening section, the first uphill separated the men from the boys; well it didn’t as such as the 2 boys, Spencer and some other lad who did 67 for half at Reading in 2013, Daniel something ran away from whiley “series racer” Adcock. Turns out for a little lad Spencer packs a lot of speed!

In true Adcock fashion he sat back and consolidated 3rd by running with someone he recognised from the local leagues and reassuring himself that a) he had a race on Sunday, b) third was a good position for the race in terms of the series and 3) it’s just a bit unsociable to run all out in an evening race. He also added ‘things will be different with the dawn of the McKEP era, this time next year…’ to his happy thoughts collection.

So Adcock watched Spencer and (he laterly found out) Woodgate battle for the honours, Spencer eventually triumphing, before drifting in in third position. No warm down was required by the time he completed the return trek to the car from finish so headed swiftly to the aforementioned pub chain content that he had provided yet another example of exemplary series racing. Satisfied with his nights work he tucked into beef ribs and pulled pork (not euphemisms) whilst looking at the vast numbers of Blisworth landscapes shots his girlfriend had compiled for the McKEP website. For the record she had scallops with prawn risotto.

Athletes line up raring to go in this years Race

Adcock works hard to consolidate third position behind Spencer and Woodgate